It’s not a “must-win” game. It’s not a “season-defining” game or even a “statement” game.
Three weeks into the Major League Soccer season, such proclamations about Toronto FC’s road match against Real Salt Lake would be completely over the top.
But Sunday’s contest is important, however, a serious test of the Reds’ character and roster depth. It could give us an indication of just how much the culture of failure still weighs on this franchise, and how much work needs to be done to come out from under it.
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Here’s what we know for sure. Captain Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore are away on international duty for the U.S. national team, and won’t be in Utah. feft fullback Justin Morrow, one of TFC’s most reliable and consistent performers last season, is suspended.
Veteran centre back Steven Caldwell is questionable due to lingering calf and Achilles injuries. Also questionable are backup defenders Mark Bloom (quad) and Eriq Zavaleta (ankle).
Centre back Damien Perquis is dealing with a minor calf strain, but the Frenchman is expected to be available for selection on Sunday. If he can’t play, though, Toronto will be without three of their four starting defenders against Salt Lake. The fourth, right fullback Warren Creavalle, has hardly looked solid through the Reds’ first two games of the campaign.
So the Reds will be missing their top scorer (Altidore), their midfield linchpin (Bradley) and most likely their defensive quarterback (Caldwell). In all likelihood coach Greg Vanney will be forced to start a makeshift back four, with limited defensive options off the bench. To top it all off TFC has to play on the road, at altitude, against no less of an opponent than Real Salt Lake, one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
For all TFC’s marquee signings in the off-season, the depth of the roster remains a major question. Perquis and Zavaleta were brought in to bolster the middle of the defence, but the team still lacks quality backups at the fullback positions. At the start of the season Toronto appeared to be one or two defensive injuries away from being in a precarious situation. And so it has come to pass.
Altidore was signed to replace Jermain Defoe and thus far the American striker has thrived, scoring goals, offering a physical presence up front and holding up the ball to bring teammates into the play. Will Luke Moore be able to fill his boots on Sunday? How will Sebastian Giovinco do without the service of Bradley and Altidore?
Benoit Cheyrou has formed a formidable partnership with Bradley in the centre of the park. How will the Frenchman get on with Collen Warner in Bradley’ absence?
Dealing with adversity has never been Toronto’s strong suit. It has a history of crumbling under pressure, of folding when the odds are against them.
Two weeks ago in Columbus, the Reds more than held their own with the Crew, and carved out a few quality scoring chances before Justin Morrow earned a red card in the dying seconds of the first half.
Playing a man down is difficult, especially on the road. But it’s not a death sentence. Teams have been known to overcome the disadvantage and scratch out a positive result. It’s not impossible. It does, however, require character and grit—qualities that have been in short supply at TFC since they entered the league.
TFC allowed Morrow’s red card in Columbus to completely knock the fight out of them, and they were outplayed and outclassed by the Crew in the second half. It wasn’t so much the result that was disappointing as it was the performance. Toronto lacked organization and spirit, meekly accepting they were going to lose without putting up any serious resistance.
One wonders, then, how the Reds will handle things in Utah, when they walk on the pitch with a built in excuse for losing—all those injuries and international absences. Will they simply view their fate as a fait accompli?
The fact remains that those losses are severe, and they may cost TFC a realistic shot at winning. But TFC can’t play like they accept that. So, their performance will be far more important than the result on Sunday. Toronto doesn’t have to win. But it does have to compete.